Nights in Egypt

Chapter Ten: Tangled in Corruption

From what the guards reported, she came anything but quietly.

Initially she had tried to run but they'd quickly caught her –noticeable from the ripped material of her dress– but she had fought, surprisingly, without Waterbending and still managed to attemptively unman both guards and left scratches from when she clawed both of their faces. Their blood on her nails, they'd resulted in clubbing her in the back of the head –not hurting her face, of course, the guards knew she needed her face.

Still it seemed odd to Zuko, had he been in her situation, he, of course, would have used his Firebending to get free and run. But run where?

The little dancer had nowhere to go. And with a warrant for her arrest, she was bond to come back anyway.

Maybe she was trying to prove she was innocent?

Then why did she run?

Ugh, Zuko stained and pinched the bridge of his nose. Women are so confusing.

He couldn't let himself get caught up in it though, he had to remain indifferent. This situation had to be handled with the upmost care

As requested she was delivered not to prison but to his uncle's summer estate home on the outskirts of the capital with a nice overlook of the Nile River and the capital's beauty. It hadn't been used for years though, Zuko could tell by the gathered sand under the windows. But they couldn't really risk calling the slaves from the palace to come. They didn't want to risk anyone seeing a fugitive in the king's brother's house. At least, while she was shackled. Or violent.

Prince Zuko observed her from the upper gallery of the summer house, smiling at the turned tables. How tall and regal and queenly she'd been this afternoon, had diminished within the falling of hours. Her hands were bound behind her back and she was blind folded. She made no move to fight further with her guards. Nor did she lash out with that silver-tongue of hers.

"Unbind her." He ordered and it had been his undoing.

Because as soon as her sapphire eyes, scanned the room and caught him . . .

"You may go." He waved the guards away and began his descent of the staircase towards her. They, in turn, bowed and left the house without much ado and then the two were alone. He walked casually, small leisure steps that were light, almost nonexistent, from years of training.

"You? What –what are you doing?" She stammered, obviously confused by the situation.

"I put out the warrant for your arrest," Zuko said, coolly, not wanting to waste time with explanations or for anymore of her unnecessary questions or speaking, for that matter. "When we spoke this afternoon you still seemed . . . withdrawn from my proposal and let's face it I can't exactly take 'no' for an answer these days."

Her eyes widened and filled with tears.

And they froze. Not falling.

"You – you put out a warrant for my arrest. Just because of some frozen water?"

"No, I put out the warrant for your arrest because I need you for my father's assassination and the frozen water."

. . . disaster.

"Do you not realize what you have done? ! You destroyed everything!"

Zuko smacked her hands away. "Calm yourself, woman. You could have gone back to your little silly little life after all this was over –had you not fought my guards." Now I'll have to actually send her to prison. He thought wryly and almost smiled. "You let your anger get the better of you and you lost all chances of redem–"

Smack.

His world erupted into a blaze of icy blue eyes.

"I never could have gone back and you know it! They showed Ming the evidence! She would have never have wanted me back! You devil! Demon! Egyptian scum! I hate you! I hate all of you!" She moved to hit him again, but Zuko stopped her hand. Almost too easy.

His eyes ignited with anger. "And it's for those words that you will allow you to rot in your cell."

She struggled, body shacking with rage.

"Unless you help me."

"Never! You destroyed my life! Everything I've ever worked for means nothing now because of you!" She shoved him away and they both tumbled backward, Zuko's head cracking against the stone floor. She pulled herself up to sit on him, glaring hatefully, lips pulled back in an unattractive snarl. Her hands fisted his shirt. "Every day since I came to this forsaken country has been complete and utter hell. Every day here is just a reminder on how much I hate all of you. All of your people. Every last one of you."

He couldn't take this, this insult anymore.

"Really?" He asked leeringly. "Then why did you even come here?"

"I had no choice!" She screamed and he jumped up, attempting to roll them both over so, he could be on top, but she shoved down on him with muscles that flexed under the sheer material of her dress. "But the difference is, what makes me better than you, is that I would never kill someone! I can live with my hatred! I can pretend to like all of you all! And yet you, stupid prince, ask me to kill your father, and take the blame too? Have you no thoughts, no decency, for the sentiments of my life? Have you ever thought, at any time, that maybe you are needs aren't the most important thing? Maybe I have a life here." The softness in her voice wore and then the white hot anger sharpened. You brutal idiot–!"

"Enough!" Zuko's blood boiled.

"–I can't even Waterbend!" she screamed, much louder than him.

Zuko quickly shoved her off, sat back on his haunches and leapt on top of her. Slamming her head into the stone floor she cried out in pain and he pressed his weight down on top of her stomach. One hand grabbing for her shoulder and the other for her neck. His fingers clenched and her hands reached to grab at his wrist, mouth agape like a fish and eyes bright with life. Life he could easily pull from her.

His eyes narrowed, dark and dangerous.

"What?" He hissed.

Yes, before the couple buddy-buddy Zutara we have this angry Dark!Zuko on our hands. And a royallypissed!Katara

Zuko seems to think that all the entertainers (Midnight Dancers) are poor little rich girls who, when coming to his great country, had a falling out and were forced into this life. Therefore, he treats them badly because they make them look bad for not being rich. (A lot of rich people in one country says a lot). Does that make sense? I'll explain it later. Lots of explaining later.

Review me, tell me what you think!

~QueenVamp